Jetsettersblog

Scotland’s Islands autumn & winter 2011 events

Celebrate island culture and heritage this autumn and winter with an action-packed line-up of exciting events as part of the Year of Scotland’s Islands festivities.

Shetland Food Festival
Shetland Mainland
5-13 November 2011

A celebration of mouth-watering Shetland produce, including some more unusual specialities such as seawater oatcakes, Shetland Black potatoes and more-ish fudge!

Food lovers’ events include cookery demonstrations, producers’ markets and Christmas craft fair. There’s also a ‘Ready, Steady, Shetland’ cook-off, where Shetlanders present their take on the popular TV programme, Ready, Steady, Cook.
http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/440/shetland-food-festival

Harris Tweed – Past, Present and Future (celebrating the centenary of the Orb 1911-2011)
Lewis
18 November 2011
This one-day event marks the centenary of the orb by reviewing the history of this vitally important and distinctive island industry with a variety of engaging talks, poetry, film, story-telling and discussion sessions.

Arranged by the Island Book Trust in conjunction with the Harris Tweed Authority, the event will bring together people from different backgrounds to celebrate the island’s successes and achievements and reflecting on the current and future challenges it faces.

http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/536/harris-tweed—past-present-and-future-(celebrating-the-centenary-of-the-orb-1911-2011)

The Ba
Kirkwall, Orkney mainland
25 December 2011 and 01 January 2012

Forget about running with the bulls in Pamplona, for a truly fierce street sport, visitors should head to Orkney on either Christmas morning or New Year’s Day to watch in the annual Ba’ competition. Starting outside the majestic St Magnus Cathedral before raging through the streets of Kirkwall, The Ba’ is a traditional game of street rugby with participants from the opposing teams, The Uppies and The Doonies fight over the much prizes locally handmade leather Ba’ (ball). Spectators are welcome but be careful!
www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/491/the-ba

Up Helly Aa
Shetland mainland
31 January 2012

Shetland’s biggest fire festival, Up Helly Aa, celebrates Shetland’s history with a series of re-enactments, culminating in a torch lit procession and Viking Galley burning.

Considering it’s held in mid-winter on the same latitude as southern Greenland, Up Helly Aa has never been cancelled
http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/434/up-helly-aa

Papay Gyro Nights 2012 Art Festival
Pap Westray, Orkney
6-13 February 2012

Papay Gyro Nights is an international film and video art, contemporary art, music and architecture festival based on folklore and tradition of Orkney. The Festival takes place in unique and remote settings on the island of Papa Westray. The idea of the festival has originated from the ancient Papay tradition of the Night of The Gyros. The Festival is also a reflection the island’s landscape and heritage as well as interpretation of tradition and ritual.
http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/274/papay-gyro-nights-2012-art-festival

For more information on the Scotland’s Islands initiative visit: www.scotlandsislands.com

Winter’s approaching and it’s time for something new. You’ve tried ice skating and sledding down a snowy hill; you’ve probably tried skiing and perhaps snowboarding. But have you ever tried high speed driving on an ice-covered racing circuit?

At the Juha Kankkunen Driving Academy in Finland’s Northern wilderness, adrenaline junkies can experience the ultimate winter racing experience. Finnish Rally World Champion Juha Kankkunen and his experienced team will teach visitors how to control a car at high speed on an ice-covered racing track, as well as the art of rally racing in the arctic.

With two ice and snow covered tracks, brand new cars fitted with hand-made winter tires and Monte Carlo style studs, this is an exhilarating challenge for even the most experienced winter thrill-seekers. The VIP ice-driving experience is completed with exclusive accommodation, the very best in seasonal Finnish food and unparalleled VIP treatment.

Courses are priced from €700 per day for groups and €1200 per day for single drivers. The package includes a full day’s driving tuition and training with professional rally instructors, transportation to and from the tracks, fuel, insurance, towing, theory, cottage lunch and local assistance. Accommodation is priced from €100 per night, with a choice of cottage or hotel, including breakfast.

Finnair offers daily flights to Kuusamo via Helsinki (from London Heathrow & Manchester)

It looks like pudding bars are set to be the new cocktail bars in the capital. In line with this emerging trend the athenaeum is delighted to announce the arrival of their very own Pudding Parlour that will launch to coincide with British Baking Week next week. Each month Edd Kimber, baker of the minute and winner of The Great British Bake-Off 2010, will add a new and special ‘Pudding Of The Month’ to the menu.

The Pudding Parlour at the athenaeum will be open every evening except on Sundays in the athenaeum’s Garden Room. The menu will consist of an ever-changing array of treats, cakes and tarts made by the hotel’s French pastry chef and her team as well as a very special ‘Pudding Of The Month’ by The Boy Who Bakes. To accompany the exquisite puddings an extensive menu of delicious pudding wines is on offer, all of which have been selected specifically to compliment the puddings being served.

The Boy Who Bakes’ ‘Pudding Of The Month’ will be; Plum/Damson Almondine (October), Deliciously Creamy Curd Tart (November) Traditional Home Made Mince Pies (December) Apple and Pecan Tart (January) and White Chocolate & Matcha Mousse (February). Special signed copies of the new book, ‘The Boy Who Bakes’ will be available to buy to take away as a souvener.

Conveniently located in Mayfair around the corner from the West-End and open every evening from Monday to Saturday the Pudding Parlour at the athenaeum is the ideal place to stop in for a late night sweet treat or a post-theatre bite.

Christmas is about being with family and friends and what better way to spend time together than in a luxury holiday home?

www.cornwallscottages.co.uk has a great selection of properties, whether oozing character and charm or boasting top of the range mod cons.

Most importantly, all properties have WiFi for those who need it, quality entertainment systems, space to make merry and to relax and are close to coastal paths for the all important Boxing Day walks:

Toadstools

Sleeps 4

The epitome of chocolate box chic, Toadstools is a simply magical two bedroom traditional cottage. In a peaceful hamlet on the Roseland Peninsula, the property has beamed ceilings, an open fireplace, a great farmhouse style kitchen, a private back garden and allows dogs.

Toadstools costs £699 from Thursday 22 December to Thursday 29 December 2011.

Green Acres Cottages

Sleeps up to 6

Complete with superb indoor heated swimming pool, this new development of cottages are ideally located near Fowey, Lostwithiel and the Eden Project. Surrounded by stunning countryside, the properties have one double and twin room as well as a high quality double sofa bed, well equipped modern kitchens, outside area with furniture and reserved private parking. Friday, Saturday and Sunday arrivals and short breaks are available.

Green Acres Cottages cost £590 from Friday 23 December to Friday 30 December 2011.

Tideway

Sleeps 9

Tideway offers a level of luxury equivalent to the best hotels in Cornwall. Stunning views from the dramatic deck area and from every living room in the house, the kitchen & living rooms an integrated sound system and computer controlled heating system (there is also an open fire place) and there is even a six seat hot tub.

There is parking for up to 4 cars on the private driveway which is accessed through an electric gate.

Tideway costs £2999 from Wednesday 21 to Wednesday 28 December 2011.

For more information please visit www.cornwallscottages.co.uk  or call 01872 264441.

Enjoy a complimentary arrival supper when booking a week’s stay in Cornish self-catering holiday cottages Nancenoy and Polwheveral this winter.

The two terraced barn conversions are set in the beautiful creek side hamlet of Port Navas near Falmouth.

The location is perfect for exploring this quite magical part of Cornwall, famously used as the backdrop to Daphne Du Maurier’s novel “Frenchman’s Creek”. The famous Duchy Oyster Farm is a stone’s throw away, the gardens of Glendurgan and Trebah are nearby and there are miles of walks along the river towards Falmouth or the Lizard.

The cottages have reverse level accommodation, each boasting stunning views from their open plan kitchen/living rooms on the first floor towards the idyllic Helford River. They also have access to a sheltered cobbled yard on the ground floor as well as a second terrace and lawn to the rear.

The bedrooms are also on the ground floor – Nancenoy has a double bedroom and Polwheveral has a double and single bedroom. Both properties can be rented out together to sleep five guests.

Both cottages have cosy wood burning stoves, flat screen TV & DVD players, WiFi and a shared laundry room.

The complimentary local supper is served on arrival, available for every seven-day booking from November 2011 to March 2012.

A week’s stay is £544 with immediate availability from 28 October to 22 December 2011.

For more information please visit www.cornwallscottages.co.uk  or call 01872 264441.

Those looking for a bit of festive fizz can enjoy Grape Escapes’ Prestige Christmas Market Weekend from 9-11 December 2011. The two night trip will mix Champagne vineyard tours with Reims’ famous Christmas market making it an ideal pre-Christmas break.

The weekend is based in Reims from where guests are given a guided vineyard tour of the Montage de Reims in a luxury mini coach. This includes a visit to the Ruinart Champagne House, whose cellars are classified as a historical monument, and tours and tastings at two, smaller family run estates. The tastings are complimented by a four course gourmet lunch in a premium restaurant.

Visitors will be able to stock up on presents for families and friends in Reims’ Christmas Village. This was the site of the first French Christmas celebration in 496 and it lights up each year with entertainers, carol singers, magicians and market stalls selling decorations, gifts and traditional local food and drink.

Prices for the Christmas Market Weekend start at £310 per person including return Dover to Calais ferry crossings with P&O Ferries for a car and two passengers, two nights bed and breakfast accommodation, a full day tour and a four course lunch. Prices increase with the choice of accommodation which ranges from a two star hotel in central Reims to the luxury Château les Crayères which has 20 individually designed rooms and 17 acres of landscaped parkland.
About Grape Escapes

Grape Escapes is a specialist in travel to the French wine regions offering a selection of gourmet wine-tasting weekends in Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Loire and the Rhône. Catering for all food and wine lovers from the serious connoisseur to enthusiastic beginner, Grape Escapes’ small group tours average just 12 guests and blend tastings at prestigious Châteaux and Champagne houses with more intimate invitations as the guests of smaller family-run estates. Grape Escapes also offers longer tailor-made self-drive itineraries, private group tours for friends or social groups such as hen weekends and weddings.

Mulled wine, mince pies and presents under the tree – Christmas is about spending family time together. What better way to relax and unwind in each other’s company, than on holiday in the beautiful South Hams, the Southernmost tip of Devon. Coast & Country Cottages have a fabulous range of properties available, from cosy ‘chocolate box’ thatched cottages with wood burners, to spacious contemporary houses perfect for a family gathering.

Why not head to one of the award winning restaurants for a Christmas Eve supper, or prepare a delicious Christmas lunch using locally grown ingredients which can be delivered straight to your holiday home. With miles of coastal path to explore, perfect for walking off those over indulgences, plus countless all weather family attractions, there is plenty for the whole family to enjoy over the festive season in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For more information about Christmas availability visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk or call 01548 843773.

16 Dart Marina, Dartmouth (sleeps 4)

This stylish, contemporary apartment is perfect for a relaxing Christmas break. Situated in a stunning location with views over the River Dart, this luxury property is a short walk along the picturesque waterfront from Dartmouth’s boutique shops, award winning restaurants and tea rooms, ideal for that indulgent mince pie! The week commencing 24th December is £1375.

Apartment 2 At the Beach, Torcross (sleeps 4)

Situated just metres from the sea at Slapton Sands, 2 At the Beach, is a luxury ground floor apartment, with beautiful sea views from the terrace. The property is beautifully presented and well equipped. Enjoy a walk along the beach or South Devon coast path after Christmas lunch, or settle down in front of the widescreen TV and watch the Queen’s Speech. The week commencing 24th December is £850.

Holset House, East Portlemouth (sleeps 10-12)

Newly available with Coast & Country Cottages for 2012, this luxury country house in East Portlemouth is an elegant and spacious property for a family gathering. The property features an Aga, perfect for cooking the turkey! There is also a lovely fireplace – relax by the roaring fire, roasting chestnuts. With stunning views over the surrounding countryside, this is a fantastic rural retreat for rest and relaxation. The week commencing 20th December is £2975.

The Penthouse, 1 Woodside, Salcombe (sleeps 4-6)

This luxury apartment offers stunning 180° panoramic views over the Salcombe estuary and is VisitBritain Five Star awarded. Enjoy the festive break in style at this chic, contemporary penthouse, with a private beach and mooring. The property is well equipped for families with baby friendly facilities and equipment to keep the whole family entertained, including a Nintendo Wii! Special Offer: £200 off the week ccommencing 24th December, now £1432.

Coast & Country Cottages is a Devon based agency, marketing holiday properties exclusively in the South Hams. With an ever expanding portfolio of over 425 cottages, there is a range of options for those wishing to holiday in the area, from luxury apartments, to cosy thatched cottages, large coastal holiday homes and beautifully renovated barns. This friendly, local company aims to match customers with the right holiday property and location, and their locally based team can provide useful advice to help you choose the perfect location for your holiday in Devon.

For further information and availability, to book online or to order your free 2012 brochure, visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk  or call 01548 843773 today.

Two brand new heritage cycle trails have been launched. Incorporating picturesque routes through bracing countryside, plus the opportunity to stop off at some of the North West’s finest museums and attractions, they’re designed to keep both the mind and body active.

The first trail meanders through the Cheshire Plain and along its waterways, while the second explores some of the culturally rich environs around Burnley, Lancashire. Launched by Modern History, which promotes more than 100 of the North West’s industrial heritage attractions, the routes have been developed in association with Sustrans, the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity.

A Cycle Through Cheshire

This trail starts at the Anderton Boat Lift, the spectacular ‘cathedral of the canals’, which links the River Weaver to the Trent and Mersey Canal. After exploring the museum and taking a ride on the Edwin Clark boat trip, it’s time to head off through the meadows and woodland to the Marbury Country Park; before setting off for Northwich town centre to discover the story of the salt mining town. Those keen to extend their ride can follow the route north to the Weaver Hall Museum, housed within the old Northwich Union Workhouse.

A Leisurely Pedal Through Lancashire’s History

Three routes give the opportunity to ride through the histories of Lancashire’s rich and poor, while also exploring some beautiful parkland. Find out more about the region’s world-leading cotton production at Queen Street Mill Textile Museum and The Weavers’ Triangle Visitor Centre; and marvel at the spectacle of two fine houses: Towneley Hall and Gawthorpe Hall

To download the routes, simply visit www.modernhistory.co.uk/cycle

Times are tough and stress levels are at an all time high – with this in mind 5* Blythswood Square, recently award AA Scottish Hotel of the Year has introduced a Watsu Water Massage treatment, with the power to reduce stress in minutes.

Watsu means “water -shiatsu” and the treatment is a unique ‘one to one’ experience combining Shiatsu pressure points with gentle stretches and the absence of gravity. Using water as a medium relaxes, supports and nurtures body and mind. The mobility and freedom of movement in a Watsu Water Massage treatment can create a trance like state of deep state relaxation which can help unlock stored stress and tension

Many people say that a Watsu Water Massage is the most relaxing experience they have ever had! Imagine a calm, warm environment where deep physical and mental relaxation is achieved within minutes.

A Watsu Water Massage can also be beneficial in treating a variety of conditions. It can relieve aches and pains, reduce fatigue, relax muscle tension, ease stress, boost energy levels, improve circulation, improve body tone, promote deep breathing, harmonise sleep patterns and also improve the range of joint movements.

Blythswood Square Watsu Water Massage costs £80 for 60 minutes
Blythswood Square Day Guest Watsu – includes your treatment and access to the Blythswood Square Thermal Experience and costs £100

The Spa at Blythswood Square covers 10,000 square feet and offers the exclusive Blythswood Thermal Experience – a seven stage journey of alternating temperature experiences to soothe, relax and detoxify the body prior to spa treatments or as a restorative therapy and the UK’s first indigenous Scottish treatments designed in conjunction with luxury organic skincare house, ila.

The Spa features nine spacious and tranquil treatment rooms including a double suite where guests can enjoy a full range of face, body and holistic treatments, a decadent Dark Pool where guests can relax in warm waters, a Rhassoul, a choice of wet and dry relaxation rooms and a spa lounge where guests can peruse the spa menu and choose from an array of beautifully presented tapas dishes.

Blythswood Square is situated in the heart of Glasgow on one of the city’s green spaces. The hotel has 100 bedrooms including four spacious suites and a top floor penthouse. It also has a restaurant, bars, a private screening room and event facilities.

Blythswood Square is one of Scotland’s most environmentally-friendly hotels through the incorporation of renewable energy technologies to achieve reduced carbon emissions.

For further information visit www.blythswoodsquare.com , telephone 0141 248 8888.

How does Christmas in a cosy beautifully furnished log cabin with a wood burning stove and panoramic views of the depths of the surrounding forest sound? You can even take the family dog along to some of the pet-friendly cabins! Forest Holidays are offering some fabulous deals that won’t break the bank, including 15% off all Christmas weekend breaks and 15% off a 4 night stay between Christmas and New Year.

Plus -book the Christmas weekend at full brochure price and you’ll receive 50% off stays in the midweek following Christmas but hurry…you need to book by 31 OCTOBER!

Your unique Christmas break in the heart of one of Britain’s Forestry Commission maintained forests will be one to remember ! There is still availability at Keldy in North Yorkshire, Deerpark in Cornwall, Strathryre in Scotland and the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire for the week leading up to Christmas and Christmas week. It’s certainly a more novel break than a regular B&B or country cottage, and less expensive too!

Plenty of fun activities are available for both kids and adults alike. Hire a bicycle or explore the forest with a Forest Holidays Ranger who knows the forest and its inhabitants inside out. Or simply relax in your own private hot tub and enjoy Christmas the stress-free way.

Every Forest Holidays cabin will have a decorated Christmas tree and a wonderful hamper packed with champagne and tasty festive fare. Father Christmas will also be visiting all of the cabins on Christmas Eve and there will be a range of Christmas themed Ranger activities available.

Great Christmas value! BOOK BY 31 OCTOBER
LEAD IN PRICES:
A three bedroom Copper Beech cabin, sleeping 6 people in The Forest of Dean beginning 23 Dec costs £20pp per night for one week or £35pp per night for a 3 night Christmas weekend stay.

Offers subject to availabilityand applies to new bookings only

Copper Beech cabins offer great value, are cosy, relaxing and ideal for those not wanting a hot tub.
Silver Birch and Golden Oak cabins come with private outdoor hot tub, flatscreen TV and DVD player, and The Golden Oak offer a Wii console plus log burning stove.

For details call 0845 130 8224 or visit www.forestholidays.co.uk